Aerodrome runway light



March 20, 1956 c. GARD 2,739,222

AERODROME RUNWAY LIGHT CHRISTIq G I RD March 1956 c. GARD ,73

AERODROME RUNWAY LIGHT Filed June 11, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United tates Patent AERODROME RUNWAY LIGHT Christian Gard, Oslo, Norway Application June 11, 1952, Serial No. 292,805

Claims priority, application Norway June 25, 1951 6 Claims. (Cl. 240-1.2)

This invention relates to aerodrome lighting fittings and particularly to lighting fittings for use on aerodrome runways and the like. In general, such lighting fittings are located just above the ground and if situated on an aerodrome subject to snow falls, the lighting fittings, unless made removable, are likely to be damaged when a runway is cleared of snow by snow ploughs.

An object of the present invention is the provision of Preferably, the base forms a cover for the we'll or cavity.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood,

- two constructions of lighting fittings in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a part central vertical section of the first construction with the fitting in its normal position,

Figure 2 shows a similar part section of the same construction but with the fitting in the position it occupies during snow ploughing,

Figure 3 shows a detail of this fitting,

Figure 4 shows a central vertical section of the major components of the second construction,

Figure 5 shows a top plan view of a seating ring of the second construction,

Figure 6 shows a top plan view of a base plate of the second construction, and

Figure 7 shows a view similar to Figure 2 of the second construction.

For simplicity, like parts in the two constructions have been given the same reference numerals.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the first construction comprises a light 1 which may take any form suitable for lighting an aerodrome runway. The light 1 is mounted upon a tube 2 secured to a circular base plate 3 and this base plate rests upon a seating ring 4 over a well or cavity 5 in the aerodrome runway. The well or cavity 5 may be formed within the concrete of the runway and the seating ring 4 will be suitably secured in place so that the top surface thereof is flush with the surface of the runway. A flexible lead 6 carries an electric supply to the light 1 and in order that the base plate 3 shall be set in the correct position so that the light 1 is in its correct position relative to the runway, projections 7 (see Figure 3) are provided on the base plate 3 which engage with suitable recesses (not shown) in the seating ring 4. As is clearly shown in Figure 3, a recess 8 is provided in the peripheral edge of the base plate 3 for the lead 6 and a bar 9 bridging a recess 10 in the base plate 3 is. provided for lifting the base plate 3 and light 1 from the position shown in Figure 2.

As will be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the base plate 3 has conical top and bottom surfaces 10 and 11 which are of equal taper, whilst the aperture 12 in the seating ring 4 is provided with a conical surface 13 of the same taper as the surfaces 10 and 11. This ensures that the base plate 3 forms a cover for the well or cavity 5 and the dimensions of the parts 3 and 4 are such that when the light 1 is reversed and placed in the well' or cavity 5, the upper surface of the base plate 3 is below the upper surface of the seating ring 4.

Under normal operating conditions when the fitting is required for illuminating the runway, the light 1 is arranged in its normal upright position as shown in Fig ure 1.- If snow falls and it is desired to clear the runway with a snow plough, the base plate 3 is lifted from the seating ring 4 and the light is reversed and placed in the well or cavity 5 with the light hanging up-side-down in the well or cavity. In this position, the light is completely protected from damage and the surface of the runway is quite free from projecting parts which might impede snow ploughing. When ploughing has been completed, the light 1 may be raised by the handle 9 on the base plate 3 and set in its upright position again as shown in'Figure l. The projections 7 on the base plate 3 ensure that the light 1 is placed in its correct position relative to the runway.

Referring now to Figures 4, 5 and 6, the second construction is a modification or development of the first construction and here the double matching conical surfacesof the base plate 3 and seating ring 4 are not used, the'base plate 3 resting in its normal position on three adjustable studs 14 screwed into the seating ring 4 which is in the form of a flanged annulus. No projections as those 7 .in the first construction are used for positioning the :base plate 3 in the seating ring 4 but a projecting stud IS on the seating ring 4 engages in a slot 16 inthe base plate 3. The parts 15 and 16 co-operate to ensure that the light, which is not shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, always occupies its correct position relative to the runway.

Figure 4 shows the parts of the second construction in the position they occupy when the light is in its normal position and it will be seen that the base plate 3 is provided with a central boss 17 for supporting the light. Two handles 18 are provided on the same side of the base plate 3 for lifting the base plate from its seating ring 4, whilst the underside of the base plate 3 is provided with a handle 9 of similar construction to that shown in Figure 3. The handles 9 and 18 facilitate the lifting of the base plate 3 so that no special tools are required for changing the position of the light.

When the base plate 3 is inverted so as to place the light within the well or cavity below the seating ring 4, a conical surface 19 on the base plate 3 engages with a co-operating conical surface 20 on the seating ring 4 so that the base plate 3 acts as a cover effectively sealing the well or cavity beneath the ring 4. When the base plate 3 is in this position, the lower surface 21 thereof is below the upper surface 22 of the seating ring 4, which surface 22 would be arranged to be flush with the runway surface.

A cable entry 23 is provided on the boss 17, whilst the projection 15 is adjustable to a limited extent around the periphery of the seating ring 4 to allow for any small errors in the setting of the seating ring 4 in the concrete of the runway.

I claim:

1. An aerodrome runway lighting fitting comprising an annular seating member for mounting in a runway over a cavity in said runway, said member having an upwardly flaring surface, a base seating reversibly in said annular seating member in erect normal position or reversed position and forming in either of its said two positions a cover for said cavity, said base having upper and lower tapering surfaces matching the surface of the seating member, at least the upper portion of said base being spaced from the annular seating member when the base is in erect normal position, and a light supported by said base, said light being adapted in one position of said base to be positioned some distance above runway level and in the other position of said base to lie in said cavity, said base being held in place on the annular seating member solely by its own weight and the weight of the light.

2. An aerodrome runway lighting fitting comprising an annular seating member for mounting in a runway over a cavity in said runway, a base seating reversibly in said annular seating member in erect normal position or reversed position and forming in either of its said two positions a cover for said cavity, at least the upper portion of said base being spaced from the annular scating member when the base is in erect normal position, and a light supported by said base, said light being adapted in one position of said base to be positioned some distance above runway level and in the other position of said base to lie in said cavity, said base being held in place on the annular seating member solely by its own weight and the weight of the light, the edge of the base being recessed for an electric supply lead.

3. An, aerodrome runway lighting fitting comprising an annular seating member for mounting in a runway over a cavity in said runway, a base seating reversibly in said annular seating member in erect normal position or reversed position and forming in either of its said two positions a cover for said cavity, at least the upper portion of said base being spaced from the annular seating member when the base is in erect normal position, a light supported by said base, said light being adapted in one position of said base to be positioned some distance above runway level and in the other position of said base to lie in said cavity, said base being held in place on the annular seating member solely by its own weight and the weight of the light, and means to orient the base in predetermined position with respect to the seating member.

4. An aerodrome runway lighting fitting as set forth in claim 3 wherein the orienting means comprises at least one projection carried by said base, said annular seating ring having a recess engaging said projection.

5. An aerodrome runway lighting fitting comprising an annular seating member for mounting in a runway over a cavity in said runway, said member constituting a flanged annular seating ring having three studs adjustable in height mounted on said flange and spaced around the axis of said ring, a base seating reversibly in said annular seating member in erect normal position or reversed position and forming in either of its said two positions a cover for said cavity, said base being seated on said studs, at least the upper portion of said base being spaced from the annular seating member when the base is in erect normal position, and alight supported by said base, said light being adapted in one position of said base to be positioned some distance above runway level and in the other position of said base to lie in said cavity, said base being held in place on the annular seating member solely by its own weight and the weight of the light.

6. An aerodrome runway lighting fitting as set forth in claim 5 wherein the base is provided with at least one handle on at least one side thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent Great Britain July 2, 193 

